Where to Eat in Swing States, Early Primary States and More!

When I tell people I liked the food in Little Rock more than the food in Southern California, they are often surprised. Thinking about it, I can't really compare the two objectively because I had such excellent guides in Arkansas. Similarly, now that I'm in Minnesota (I'm exhausted just reading this. Someone hire me for good post-2020!) I'm on the hunt for neighborhood go-tos as well as places to eat as I travel about the state. And I thought, "Everyone should be as lucky as I was with my crew in Arkansas!" So, I've crowd sourced places to eat in early states, swing states and more. This will be an evolving list so please feel free to comment with your faves! Huge thank you to all my many friends both real and Internet for contributing.


Key:
Bold-I have personally eaten there, CAN CONFIRM.
Italics- Vegan or vegan-friendly. (Not exhaustive, these are just places I know for sure are vegan friendly)
"" Are comments for contributors
() Contain comments from yours truly

Early States:

Iowa
The Cafe, Ames
Downtown Deli, Ames
Fuzzy's Tacos, Ames
Great Plains Pizza, Ames
Hickory Park, Ames
The Spice, Ames
Whitney's Ice Cream, Bettendorf
La Tavola Italian, Burlington
Jay's Homestyle, Cedar Falls
Taste of India, Cedar Falls
Irish Democrat, Cedar Rapids
Cabin Coffee, Clear Lake
Rice House, Clear Lake
30 Hop, Coralville
La Vecina, Coralville
Monica's, Coralville
Scratch Bakery, Coralville
Vesta, Coralville
La Prairie French Bakery, Des Moines
Mars Cafe, Des Moines
St. Kilda, Des Moines
Zombie Burger, Des Moines
Dubuque Mining Company, Dubuque
Mario's, Dubuque (It is ALWAYS someone's birthday in there. They are constantly singing happy birthday)
Salsa's, Dubuque
Schera's, Elkader
Blackstone, Iowa City
Blue Bird Diner, Iowa City
Brix, Iowa City
The Cottage Bakery, Iowa City
Dumpling Darling, Iowa City and Des Moines
Goosetown Cafe, Iowa City
Hamburg Inn No. 2, Iowa City "For the pie shakes" (Famous popular stop for Presidential candidates because of the coffee bean poll)
Her Soup Kitchen, Iowa City
Java House, Iowa City
The Mill, Iowa City "Get the Nachos" (Also best option for day drinking)
Oasis, Iowa City (This came up from multiple sources and remembering how good it is,I almost jumped in the car.)
Pagliai’s, Iowa City (Guys seriously this is the best pizza I have ever had in the Midwest)
Pullman, Iowa City
La Regia, Iowa City
Short’s, Iowa City "Get the burger or black bean burger"
Stella's, Iowa City
Trumpet Blossom, Iowa City
The Vue, Iowa City
Rudy's Tacos, Waterloo

New Hampshire
The Friendly Toast, Bedford and Portsmouth (Had one near my college too! The stuffed french toast is the best brunch I've ever had)
Crust and Crumb, Concord
Dos Amigos, Concord
Margaritas, Concord, Exeter, Nashua, Portsmouth
Vibes, Concord
The Works, Concord and Portsmouth
The Bookery, Manchester
Cafe la Reine, Manchester
Gyro Spot, Manchester
The Puritan Backroom, Manchester
Noodz, Manchester
Portland Pie Company, Manchester
Red Arrow Diner, Manchester "Get the poutine!"
Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, Meredith
Parker’s Maple Barn, Mason
Ava Marie’s Chocolates, Peterborough
Bagel Mill,Peterborough
Fezziwigs, Portsmouth
Popover's, Portsmouth
Tuscan Market, Portsmouth
Kashmir, Salem
Tilt'n Diner, Tilton

Nevada
Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas
Habaneros, Las Vegas
Capriotti's, Las Vegas

South Carolina
Fruit Punch, Anderson "Get a bird dog. It’s a hot dog with chicken fingers, bacon, honey mustard and cheese"
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, Charleston
Bowen's Island, Folly Beach
Pita House, Greenville

Swing States and other states in which contributors have worked

Arizona
Horsemen Lodge, Flagstaff
America's Taco Shop, Phoenix

Arkansas
Doe's Eat Place, Little Rock (BEST tamales)
Lost Forty Brewery, Little Rock
Sims BBQ, Little Rock
Slim Chickens, Little Rock
Three Fold, Little Rock

California
Georgia's, Anaheim (In the Anaheim packing district. Get the spicy chicken sandwich)
Grow, Anaheim (Get an iced lavender latte and the avocado toast)
Mendocino Farms, Multiple locations (Everything is delicious but I am partial to the chicken caesar salad)
Cafe Moulin, Laguna Beach "Get the French hotdog, only available at the Laguna Beach location and only in the summer"
Two Saucy Broads, Fullerton (Best pizza in Orange County)
Christaki's, Tustin (Sit down place. Best gyro in the area)

Colorado
La Caretta, Colorado Springs
Poor Richard's, Denver
Charlie Brown's, Denver
City O City, Denver
Denver Beer Company, Denver
Denver Biscuit Company, Denver
Lechuga's, Denver
Pablo's Coffee, Denver
Rosenberg's Bagels, Denver
Sam's #3, Denver
Santiago's, Denver
Sassafras, Denver
Vital Root, Denver
Watercourse, Denver

Delaware
Capriotti's, Multiple locations

Florida
Publix, Multiple locations (Yes, the grocery store. I left this in because people are obsessed with their subs)
Four Rivers Smokehouse, Multiple locations
Satchel's Pizza, Gainesville
Basilic Vietnamese Grill, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Alter, Miami
The Big Pink, Miami
Garcia's, Miami
Monty's, Miami "For Happy Hour"
Prime Fish, Miami Beach "Bottomless brunch"
Kadence Sushi, Orlando
Carmine's, Palm Beach Garden
Columbia Restaurant, St.Petersburg and Tampa
Wright's Gourmet House, Tampa


Michigan
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor (Have not eaten there but have gotten a gift basket from them and made their mushroom soup recipe)
Anchor Bar, Detroit
Slow's BBQ, Detroit

Minnesota
Matt's, Minneapolis "for the Juicy Loosy"
Mucci's, Minneapolis (favorite rec I've received so far in MN. The bucatini, focaccia and tiramisu are especially delicious)
Safari Express, Minneapolis "For the camel burger"
Canadian Honker, Rochester
Lifestooshort, Rochester
Nupa, Rochester
Hunan Garden, Rochester
Bloedows Bakery, Winona

Missouri
Gates, Kansas City, "burnt ends, plus they have the best sauce"
Jack Stack, Kansas City "cheesy corn bake"
Joe's, Kansas City "burnt ends, pulled pork, fries"
Q39, Kansas City "pork ribs"

North Carolina
Fiction Kitchen, Raleigh
Happy & Hale, Raleigh
Rise, Raleigh (I'm obsessed with their creme brulee donut and I don't even like donuts. Also their biscuits are baking goals)


Ohio
Melt, Multiple Cities
Swenson's, Akron "LeBron took Amy Schumer and co to Swensons, so it's good enough for me!"
Campus Pollyeyes, Bowling Green
Yours Truly, Chagrin Falls "the Killit Skillet is the best hangover food on the planet"
Side Quest, Cleveland
Slyman's, Cleveland
Sweet Moses, Cleveland
West Side Market and Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland
Jeni’s Ice Cream, Columbus
Katzinger's Delicatessen, Columbus
Little Palace, Columbus
North Market, Columbus
Old Skool, Columbus
Schmidt's Sausage Haus, Columbus
Tony Packos, Toledo

Pennsylvania
Bird in Hand Farmer's Market, Bird in Hand
Hibernian Cafe, Drexel Hill
Klein Farms, Easton
Tomato Pie Cafe, Harrisburg
Cocina Mexicana, Lancaster
Prince Street Cafe, Lancaster
Sprout, Lancaster
The Vandal, Lawrenceville
Dim Sum by Jane G, Philadelphia
Han Dynasty, Philadelphia (MaPo Tofu and the DanDan Noodles are both excellent)
Jim's Steaks South Street, Philadelphia
South Philly Barbacoa, Philadelphia
Tony Luke's Sandwich Shop, Philadelphia
Jimmie John's, West Chester "Not the sandwich place!"

Virginia
Bodos Bagels, Charlottesville
Okra's, Manasaas (My husband's favorite)

Wisconsin
The Vegetarian, St. Croix Falls
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, Madison
Graze, Madison
Ian's Pizza, Madison
Monty's Blue Plate Diner, Madison
The Old Fashioned, Madison (the CHEESE CURDS you guys)
Pel'meni, Madison
Weary Traveler, Madison
Tornado Room, Madison
Sobelmans’s, Milwaukee "for burgers and Bloody Marys"
Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee "for Friday Fish Fry"
Kopp’s, Milwaukee "for frozen custard and burgers"


This list is far from exhaustive even within my own brain so please get at me with your suggestions! And/or comment below if you are looking for a place to eat in your turf. Maybe someone has been there before!

A District With Only One Voter

I wanted to quickly share this story that's been circulating the elections community about gerrymandering gone awry and a case where one vote absolutely will make a difference.

On Feb. 28, Jen Henderson, 23, became the sole registered voter living within the community improvement district, or CID, meaning she is the only person who would vote on a half-cent sales tax increase for the district.

The Columbia City Council established the district on a 5-2 vote in April in response to a petition from a group of property owners in the CID boundaries. The “qualified voters” in a CID are capable of levying various taxes or assessments within the boundaries of the district to fund improvement projects. Under state law, decisions to impose sales taxes in a CID are to be made by registered voters living in the district boundaries. If no such registered voters are present, property owners vote.

Many homes surrounding the university-owned property where Henderson resides were not included in the district when it was drawn because district organizers wanted a district free of residents.

Read more here.

Missouri GOP Fears The Choas

One of my favorite things about running this blog is that people send me things like this. Let this be a cautionary tale. Always proofread your campaign communications, guys. Always.

Advocate From Where You Stand: Shutdown Edition

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed Mike's wedding. Prepare to die."

Okay to be fair, I do not know the exact story as to how Mike and MaiLien wound up on the Colbert Report. But here is what I do know: Mike and MaiLien were scheduled to get married in DC this weekend at the Jefferson Memorial where they had their first date (Awww!!), but received a letter earlier this week informing them that due to the government shutdown they would not be able to access their venue. Then (I like to imagine) Michael used the superior organizing skills taught to him by yours truly and made his case to the public. Mike and MaiLien were on the Today Show and the Washington Post and eventually on the Colbert Report.

Michael was my organizer in Colorado in 2008 and Deputy Field Director for Claire McCaskill in 2012. I cannot stress how awesome and surreal it is to be in DC for a wedding, staying at your bro's house, turning on the TV and seeing the wedding taking place right then. On the other hand, knowing Michael it's also not surprising. He is pretty great and efficient at making things happen. Mazel Tov, Michael and MaiLien! Also excited to see the light of Michael's life (besides MaiLien) his redheaded nephew, who is featured prominently in the above video. Can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow!

Today In Voter Suppression: Voter ID Debate Still Goin' Strong

When I presented my Op-Ed on Section 5 to my Policy Writing class one of my classmates responded, "I kind of thought all of this was resolved when Obama won re-election." Lest I catch any of you making similarly ill-informed statements, here are just a few of the things going on with Voter ID laws across our great country:

Virginia: Senate Bill 719 and House Bill 1337, which passed the Senate and House of Delegates on largely party line votes, will severely restrict the number of acceptable forms of voter identification. The laws will take effect in 2014.

Maine: An independent panel formed by a Republican official and charged with examining Maine's electoral system has concluded that the state should not a implement voter ID system. "The issue of voter ID became a hot topic in Maine in November, when outgoing Republican Party Chair Charlie Webster claimed that part of the reason Republicans lost their races was because black voters cast ballots in rural Maine towns...Webster later apologized."

Indiana: Under proposed House Bill 1311, students who pay out-of-state tuition would not be able to vote in Indiana.

Missouri: "The Missouri House is set to again consider legislation that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls...The state Supreme Court struck down a 2006 photo ID law before it went into effect, and the GOP-controlled Legislature's efforts to push through a similar requirement in 2011 fizzled with a gubernatorial veto and a court challenge. Lawmakers also proposed, but failed to pass, a photo ID bill last year. This session, Republicans have returned to Jefferson City with veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate and are pushing the effort again."

New Hampshire: A bill to repeal the new voter photo identification law drew support Tuesday at a public hearing. Lawmakers last year approved a photo ID bill just months before the primary election that required voters to show a variety of photo IDs in order to vote in last November’s election. However, beginning in September, the list of acceptable photo IDs narrows to state or federally issued IDs.

Straight from the Horse's Ass's Mouth

Check out this Anti-Todd Akin add from progressive Super PAC American Bridge.

“Todd Akin’s remarks on ‘legitimate rape’ are just a starting point for his extreme views,” American Bridge spokesman Matt Thornton said. “We figured there is no better way to show Missouri voters that Akin is unqualified to be a U.S. Senator than to let him speak for himself.”

A very powerful idea if people actually open the mailers and listen to them. The advantage of campaign mail being that unlike ads and emails you HAVE to see it when you take your mail in. Speaking of which, did you know the US Postal Service is running a campaign (pun intended) to increase the number of political mailers as a way to boost its revenue stream?

“The USPS recognizes MailPOW leaves an impression that POWers voters from the mail box to the ballot box. We’re thrilled and honored that the USPS is promoting our talking cards,” said Crystal Martin, the entrepreneur behind the product.


Can't wait to see a study in the impact of these cards.